The Ballet
1880
pastel
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1880
pastel
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The painting shows a line of ballerinas on stage. They are dressed in elegant costumes and stand alongside a man in a black suit. The way the dancers are posed suggests they are waiting for a performance to start. The pastel drawing conveys a sense of quiet anticipation. The artist paid close attention to the details of the dancers' costumes and hairstyles. You can see more artwork like this by learning about the technique: pastel.
